The M.S. in Health and Strategic Communication program and the B.A. programs in the School of Communication offer an accelerated program option for Chapman undergraduates that enables students to begin taking M.S. coursework in their senior year and receive a master’s degree within one year of finishing their undergraduate studies (4 years B.A. plus 1 year M.S.). The accelerated option is open to Communication Studies and Strategic and Corporate Communication majors as long as they have satisfied the prerequisites for the program and meet the admissions requirements. Once their undergraduate degree is conferred, accelerated students can apply for graduate teaching assistantships and are eligible for graduate research assistantship awards. Both types of awards defray the cost of the M.S. in Health and Strategic Communication program.
Chapman students can apply to the M.S. program during their junior year. Students will receive conditional admission to the program, pending completion of their B.A. degree. If accepted to the M.S. program, students can take up to 12 graduate credits during their senior year as an undergraduate student that can be used to satisfy both the undergraduate graduation requirements and count toward the M.S. in Health and Strategic Communication degree.
Program admission deadlines
Early decision application reviews will begin January 15th. Applications received after January 15th will be considered on a space available basis. Because the number of students admitted is limited, meeting the following minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
Program application requirements
Students applying to the Accelerated Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies or Strategic and Corporate Communication/Master of Science in Health and Strategic Communication must submit an online application which includes the following:
- Two letters of recommendation are required, including one of which must be from an academic source.
- 500-word statement of intent addressing the area of communication in which you are interested.
- Current resume or curriculum vitae.
- Official transcripts from the Office of the University Registrar.
- Graduate Record Examination GRE will be waived for current Chapman students applying for an accelerated program.
Accelerated Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies/Master of Science in Health and Strategic Communication admission procedures
Applicants who will have a B.A. in Communication Studies and wish to apply for Chapman University’s Accelerated Master of Science in Health and Strategic Communication program must submit an application and also meet the following criteria:
- Completion of the following courses: COM 100, COM 101, COM 110, COM 151, COM 210, COM 295 and COM 314 by the end of the spring semester of their junior year. These courses:
- Must have been taken at Chapman University.
- May only have been taken once.
- Must have been taken for a letter grade.
- Must compute to a core GPA ≥ 3.300.
- Before December 1 of their junior year, the student seeking admission must schedule an interview with Graduate Director, Dr. Keith Weber (kweber@chapman.edu) and/or Graduate Coordinator, Amy Rogeness (rogeness@chapman.edu) to review requirements and establish a plan to successfully complete the requirements for admission.
Students meeting the stated requirements will be eligible for admission to the Health and Strategic Communication M.S. program on a conditional basis until the following criteria for admission are complete.
- Completion of COM 498 (Senior Seminar).
- All B.A. in Communication Studies degree requirements are completed and degree is conferred by the University.
- Cumulative GPA at graduation ≥ 3.300.
Accelerated Bachelor of Arts in Strategic and Corporate Communication/Master of Science in Health and Strategic Communication admission procedures
Applicants who will have a B.A. in Strategic and Corporate Communication and wish to apply for Chapman University’s Accelerated Master of Science in Health and Strategic Communication program must submit an application and meet the following criteria:
- Completion of the following courses: COM 151, COM 210, COM 310, SCC 100, SCC 200, SCC 295, and SCC 305 by the end of the spring semester of their junior year. These courses:
- Must have been taken at Chapman University.
- May only have been taken once.
- Must have been taken for a letter grade.
- Must compute to a core GPA ≥ 3.300.
- Before December 1 of their junior year, the student seeking admission must schedule an interview with Graduate Director, Dr. Keith Weber (kweber@chapman.edu) and/or Graduate Coordinator, Amy Rogeness (rogeness@chapman.edu) to review requirements and establish a plan to successfully complete the requirements for admission.
Students meeting the stated requirements will be eligible for admission to the Health and Strategic Communication M.S. program on a conditional basis until the following criteria for admission are complete.
- Completion of SCC 498 (Senior Seminar).
- All B.A. in Strategic and Corporate Communication degree requirements are completed and degree is conferred by the University.
- Cumulative GPA at graduation ≥ 3.300.
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